Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-15

and begin his duck shooting al Carroll Island
He looked smiling and happy over his victory. lie
al DO not see how they can loose tt next year" be
said "Mr Cleveland can carry u against any re
any one the republicans may nominate"
A MYTHICAL STEAMSHIP.
The wonderful Vessel that was 20 be
Built i'm Alexandria.
TIE NEW YORK HERALD SAYS THE COMPANY n A
FRAUp-AN KxrosyRx OF us AIIsGkp FR.vpU-
LENT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SUBSCRIPTIONS 10
STOCK ON uHrRrrHFuL REPRESENTATIONS.
The New York Herald to-day devotes nearly
whole page to what Il claims 10 be an exposure
OF the fraudulent character OF the Arrow cam
ship Company, which was organized year or 50
AGO. and had In view the establishment OF ship
yard there and the construction OF iron steamships
on q new principle. The nrst To be built was tho
Pocahontas. MI. Robert NJ. Fryer was the engi-
neer-in-chief and the general manager The CON-
pany was capitalized at u 81, OoO. ooo and various
"Everybody, says the Herald. 'has seen the
pictures OF the Pocahontas, which were framed
and sent broadcast over the country, and which
the Maritime Exporter published representa-
pany. Ii was 10 be model vessel. aniaue and un-
rvaiied in every feature. Mr. Robt. NJ. Fryer, the
engineer In chief and originator OF the ship and
that his ships were 90 be built on entirey new
principles, so simple that schoolboy could UNDER
stand tnern; 50 wonderful that engineers and ship
builders marvelled that they had not thought OF
the idea before; 50 strong in construction that
neither storms nor icebergs could sink them; so
would fioat like swans; so fleet that they
would cross the ocean In tho toughest
weather In less than six DAYS and Under
all circumstances be as steady and lux
urious as a drawing groom on land. II is
a fact that great experts were delighted with
the system Of constructing these vessels Elevated
n
steamer In storm, said IL was impossible TO dash
such iron work to pieces on the most dangerous
coast Canal-ooat builders, who had weaLhered
CroIon Point on wild nights In March, said they'd
.De gosh DANCED II the derned thing could be
from Paul Smiths boat-house In The AdIronGaoks
said that Engineer Flyers Pocanontas would
drive the Cunarders OF the sea. Tugboat men
came over from the Erie Basin, In Brooklyn, with
the opinion that Fryer had a gold mine; the PIC
lures OF the SHIP were grand, ana Il would take
forty billiards 10 loosen The SIN telescope smoke
stacks, saying nothing OF damaging the vessel"
ES0ISEER ERyER's STATEMENTS.
In a detailed conversation concerning the good
points OF these vessels which the company pro-
posed TO build Engineer Fryer said last March that
the Pocahoni as would be butt within year and
ready TO cross the ocean before Christmas. They
had plenty OF money, stock was going on like hot
cakes, and the thing was bound 10 revoluuonlZe
the shlp-buiiding or The world. The entire inte-
rior OF the ship was TO be OF such splendor and
convenience that one slateroom would De good
as another. The ship was 10 be made entirely OF
iron, With partitions extending directly across
the vessel from six 10 twelve feet apart the
tire length; but passageways would be cut
through Them for machinery and gangways, while
an immense saloon 400 feet long would extend
through these Partitions nearly the whole length
OF the ship. But SO ingeniousiy would they
be constructed that the saip would be practi-
call composed OF sixty or seventy watertight COM
partments, making IL impossible for her TO sink.
The skin OF The ship would be or double half inch
plates rvetted together as 10 break joints. like
shingles on a roof. The Training OF the iron work
would be simple yet 50 solidly constructed that
the ship could not be broken up by any ordinary
disaster. In one or his oratorical flights, when
walking up and down the room expanding his
chest ike Boston gladiator, the engineer-n-chler
threw his head into the air and said IL would be
worth living lifetime TO ride across the ocean ON
his ship. In case IL ran into icebergs and was
broken all 70 pieces (which would De imposseiel
vessel or ITSELF. and the Passengers who happened
to be In It would 90 ashore al the nearest point
and be as comfortable, though somewhat crowded,
as II they were on the ship ilseI."
Circulars were sent out giving glowing descrip-
lions Of the prospects OF the company and the
WHAT WAS LEAKNED IN ALEXANDRIA.
The Herald was informed by the late vice-presi-
dent OF the company that there was rottenness In
Mr. Fryer's scheme. He said that they had made
oyertures for him TO assist in perpetrating fraud
In such terms that he wanted 1t exposed. Tine
Herald has spent considerable time In investigat-
ing the various ramlfications OF the swindle A
reporter went TO Alexandra, Va, last week, and
The keel had not been laid. The whole scheme
was a farce. Not only had business men OF the
town been guided by false pretenses, but the sys-
up for the greater part OF year. In the printed
minutes OF the meetings OF the board OF directors
sent TO tine stockholders II was claimed that the
keel was being land, and that the company was
In fun possession OF the shipyard formerly
owned by John 7. Agnew Sons. But the re-
porter was told by MI. Agnew that the shipyard
had never been transferred TO the Arrow Company
al ALL and that tue whole transaction had been
misrepresented 10 the stockholders. Mr.. Agnew
said That Mr.. Fryer had paid 500 Tor permission 10
begin operations In the yard and was pay S. 900
for further use or the yard Tor three or four
months. ana in case the company bought it this
payment was TO go on the purchase money, with
an addition OF o per cent payment as interest IL
Is needless to say that the various payments were
news never gave the company POSSESSION OF the
property except by way OF lease. Altogether the
Arrow Company paid them some s., 600 rent money
In lnstalments and did some s.. 600 worth OF work
on the spot where the ship was 10 be launched,
but not pound OF iron had been bought for the
snip and not stick or timber hauled 10 the yard.
THE Ex-yIcE-PREsIDESTs STATEMENT.
The Herald publishes a statement by Mr.. Jas
II. Lancaster, OF New York, who was made vice
president OF the company and held the Office only
three weeks. "Mr. Robert NJ. Fryer, the engineer
in-chicf OF the Arrow steamship company. said 10
me while was vice-president OF the company, In
the latter part or April, 1857, while we were In the
private room OF the board OF directors ct No. lis
Broadway I'VE must pull together In this thing
steamship Company and come 10 thorough an-
Outstanding. The fact is, he said Il have lived on
this thing for about fifteen years and made my ly-
ing out OF It. and there Is no reason why you and
shouldn't do the same. You come up and live with
me on 9Th avenue in the best rooms I'm the house
We will bring all the models up there and have a
good time. We can get thousands OF dollars out OF
this Arrow steamship Company scheme just as
easily as have made doiiars out OF 1t by working
tt alone. Our game must not be the getting I'm OF
big men-capltalists who Will overhaul the thing
TOO much. We must get men into the company
with from s., 600 to $4,000 apiece, or whatever
they can put up. Make them wee presidents or
chief engineers or any ID thing they want 20
be- We can AFFORD togive up our be Tbs Tor awhile
Then we can make them sick and IRE them out and
get In new men with more money. That is the
way TO do il. AS TO building the Pocahontas, We
must not think OF doing TOO much work on her for
four or 1ve years. When the ships built Our game
is played out. I don't propose 70 let patriotic
thing like this fall through my fingers for many a
long year to come. You must draw the same sal
airy that do-&5,00 year-and then you can
make double that amount FOR expenses That is
what have done.'"
Mr. Lancaster went on to describe other details
of Fryer's proposition, and then said 'Of course
would not agree 10 any such proposition, and re-
fused accept the rest or the STOCK also refused
10 attend further meetings or have anything 60 do
with the scheme. In fact, have not been inside
of faan syiaac inoa \ GOD N n